These are some of the strategies to consider when supporting communication differences:

• Reduce your language – this helps a person process the language.
• Keep instructions simple –  use the minimal language you need. You may also need to break down instructions into one step at a time.
• Use the person’s name to cue them in – they may not realise the instruction you are giving is also for them.
• Provide opportunities for interaction – structured opportunities can help to model and increase confidence.
• Supporting with conversation starters and scripts –  learning and practising scripts and starters can make social situations easier to navigate.
• Use visual supports – this does not just been symbols; consider gestures, photos, modelling, objects of reference and body language also. Visuals are much easier to process for most autistic girls, than verbal information.
• Don’t force eye contact – this can be very anxiety provoking and uncomfortable for autistic girls. If we force them to do this, they may only be focused on looking at us and not able to process anything else happening.
• Wait! – giving thinking time and waiting to show you are interested in the person’s response, can encourage interaction and communication.